What Our Members are Up To...

While the Blog Editor's away, our SAQA WC members continue to 'play'...  😉

Play a key role in the textile/art quilt community, that is, bringing their work to the world both through SAQA exhibitions and on their own.  I'm just back from 17 days in Scotland...mainly off line -- and here are just a few bits of news that came to my attention once I reconnected!

Cottonwood Delta Blues
Jaynie Himsl, SK

Jaynie Himsl of Saskatchewan's piece, Cottonwood Delta Blues makes a 'splash' as SAQA's H20H! exhibit -- currently on show at the National Quit Museum in Paducah, Kentucky -- is highlighted in a video on The Quilt Show blog.

B.C. members, Lesley Turner and Sarah McLaren, held a short but successful exhibit, Colour: A Personal Response, at ARTSea Gallery in Sidney, B.C. (You can read more about this on Lesley's blog, HERE.)

And SAQA WC Co-Rep for B.C., Jennie Johnston, has secured a spot as in Artist in Residence at the Forest Grove Elementary School -- where her sons are students -- via an Artist in the Classroom grant from ArtStarts in Schools.  You can read more about that adventure on her blog, HERE.


In the 2017 SAQA Benefit Auction, which continues through October 8, B.C. member Terry Aske was thrilled to have her piece, Heron Reflected 2, sold on the opening day!  Karen Johnston's piece, 4-Patch and Beyond, was also sold during Section 1, while pieces by Margaret Blank and Susan Selby are now available for purchase in the SAQA Store.


Still available in Section 2 are pieces by Pippa Moore and Karlie McChesney, while coming up in Section 3, opening Monday, October 2, at 2 p.m. ET, are pieces by SAQA WC members Ellen Bourassa, Jaynie Himsl and Susan Purney Mark. 


Of course, there are also dozens of pieces by our SAQA colleagues from all around the globe, some of whom have become very well known, and others who may be entering the exhibiting world for the first time with their auction pieces.  Selling a piece is a real boost to all artists, but selling that very first piece...well...that's something particularly special! 

Best wishes for success for all who participated in this year's fund-raiser and wide-open exhibit opportunity!

Remember, if you have an item of note -- a technique, process, artistic experience or exhibit to share with your SAQA colleagues; an article published; a prize won; a book to recommend; a new member (even if it's yourself!) to introduce from your part of our wide Region...please contact Margaret, your long-suffering Blog Editor!  😉  She'll be happy to report it, and will give you any guidance you need in preparing the information needed for the blog post.

Thank you for your support!

Addendum...

So often when someone of note dies, those of us who admired -- but never knew -- that person are wishing they'd had an opportunity to meet her. or at least get to know more about her in a more personal way.

(L) - (R) - Alex Anderson,
Yvonne Porcella, Ricky Tims
Photo: The Quilt Show 

For those who would like to learn more about Yvonne Porcella and her adventures in quilting arts, The Quilt Show -- generally available only by subscription -- has made available a FREE viewing of their 2010 "Quilt Legend" episode, honouring Yvonne.

In this episode, she not only provided a tour of her studio and taught a couple of fun and interesting techniques, but also spoke at length about her family, her childhood, her background in sewing, her inspiration, and her passion for colourful textiles, for quilting, for studio art quilts and SAQA -- the organization she founded and served.

Click HERE for the link to the episode, available through February 29.  Scroll down to Episode #713 -- and enjoy!

Showcasing Talented Quilt Artists - Genre Neutral!

Maybe some of you are like my cyber-friend, SAQA member Susan Lenz.  Maybe you've never even heard of The Quilt Show (hosted by Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson).  Maybe you've never even heard of by-subscription programs you can watch on your computer.

Or maybe you're like me and struck gold when you found these sorts of programs a few years ago.

May I recommend a couple to you:

First, yes, The Quilt Show (or TQS)...on which several SAQA members have appeared over the years -- and some more than once!  Susan happens to be on the latest program, and for a limited time non-subscribers can watch her in the episode HERE.

Recently, Lyric Kinard made an appearance -- her second, I believe.  Other SAQA members who've been guests on TQS include Sue Bleiweiss, Katie Pasquini Masopust, Jamie Fingal, Jane Dunnewold, Jean Wells Keenan (twice), Leslie Tucker Jenison, Leni Levinson Wiener, Wendy Butler Berns, Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry, Joe Cunningham, Hollis Chatelain...to name just a few.

Annually, TQS honours a Quilting Legend (or Legends)...including our own Yvonne Porcella in 2010...

In addition to the shows, TQS has built a quilting community through the use of their forum, their blog, and their social media presence.  There's lots to see and do and learn for quilt artists of every shape, size and taste!

Another show by subscription is Design Matters TV (DMTV), produced by the mother-daughter team from the UK, Linda and Laura Kemshall.  This is a more expensive subscription -- in part due to the exchange rate! -- and the shows are shorter in duration (20 to 30 minutes versus the almost-an-hour-long Quilt Show), but there are new episodes more often than with TQS.  There are no featured guests (to date, anyway).  However, it is a close-up look at the work that Linda and Laura do, and usually features a tutorial on a technique for sketchbook (to be taken then to fabric) or directly on fabric.  Art quilting is their specialty, and they share their talents, experience and knowledge with generosity and humour.

When it's time to settle in to a snowy afternoon at the sewing machine or a wintry evening's hand-stitching, I suggest you tune in, turn on, and enjoy!  :-)


............REMINDER!  REMINDER! REMINDER!............

The DEADLINE for entering My Corner of the World and My Corner of the World: Canada is 11:59 P.M. EASTERN STANDARD TIME TONIGHT!